Does anybone have any info on which ship my Dad was evacuated on, I think it is one of 2 the Mona's Isle or the King Orry, He was part of the 4th Royal Tank Regiment and his service record says he was evacuated on 27th May, I have the war diaries (thanks Drew5233, a fantastic service by the way). and they indicate that the majority of the battalion were evacuated on the 27th at 7.30am from the harbour and the ship was shelled and strafed by 6 german aircraft for 15 minutes ( no ship name given). This ties in with my Dad telling me that the ship they were on was attacked by enemy aircraft and a tin of cigarettes he had 'liberated' from France had been shot through his bag and mashed up the said cigarettes. He also said there were a lot of casualties. This ties in with some info on line but is confusing see info below- From 1940 – 1941 The remnants of the Fourth and the Seventh less the men of the composite force, crossed the Channel on 27 May in the “Mona’s Isle”, an Isle of Man Ferry . Others crossed the channel on the King Orry, another former Isle-of-Man steam packet. Shelled from the shore and strafed by up to 6 Messerschmitt fighters, RSM Sinclair (featured in slide 8 of Chapter 2) was among the 23 killed. Most of the dead were buried near Dover. From SS Mona's Isle (1905) - Wikipedia Mona's Isle departed Dover at 21:00hrs on 27 May 1940.[8] The journey across the Channel during the hours of darkness was uneventful, and she arrived at Dunkirk at approximately midnight. Once secured at the quayside, Mona's Isle embarked 1,420 troops[8] and she left at first light the next morning. Returning by Route Z, the Mona's Isle came under fire from German shore batteries from the French coast. Many shells exploded close to the ship sending plumes of white water into the air and with water spraying over the decks. A number of shells failed to explode as they hit the ship, but one fell aft and smashed the rudder. The Mona's Isle was a triple screw vessel, so by careful use of port and starboard engines, the ship was able to reach the safety of Dover, but not before a Bf 109 had strafed the ship a couple of times killing 23 and wounding 60 others. From SS King Orry (1913) - Wikipedia The King Orry carried some armament as an ABV (Armed Boarding Vessel). She was under the command of Cdr. J. Elliott RNR and was sent to Dunkirk as the plight of the British Expeditionary Force became stark. On her first visit to the stricken port, she succeeded in getting into the harbour where she embarked 1,131 soldiers. The ship cast off and made for Dover in the early hours of 27 May. Shore batteries off Calais opened up on her, hitting the ship at least twice, inflicting some damage, and there were casualties aboard. However, she was able to continue to Dover, where she docked just before noon.[13] Now I know wikipedia is not the most accurate source of info but has anyone got a definitive answer. I am currently edging towards the KIng Orry as the timings tie in.
Gazz, I am more inclined towards the MONA'S ISLE. John de S Winser (normally very reliable) says: 'At 0750, while returning full of troops, the passenger ship MONA'S ISLE was not only straddled by shore gunfire but also attacked by six aircraft: the destroyer WINDSOR was summoned to put a doctor on board and to escort her to Dover, where 23 of her soldiers were landed dead and 60 with wounds. ISLE OF THANET was similarly shelled when passing Calais on her next outward crossing: the hospital carrier turned back unharmed, in contrast to the passenger vessel KING ORRY which, in the same vicinity, suffer damage and casualties when she was hit by at least two shells and attacked from the air while returning with troops.' There are other sources I could cross-check with, if you wish? Roy
Thanks Roy, I tend to agree with you now you have given that information, the fact that 6 aircraft attacked and the same recorded in the Battalion war diary ties in, however the 4 RTR history mentions the King Orry strafed by 6 planes? which could be a mistake, the wikipedia description was the one that threw me saying Mona's Isle set off from Dover 21.00 on the 27th, which would be after my Dad arrived in Dover. I have also found another account from The Evacuation of Dunkirk by W J R Gardner. that says the Mona's Isle left the UK at 21.16 on the 26th of May and arrived back at noon on the 27th of May after being shelled and machine gunned from the air with 23 dead and 60 casualties which is basically identical to the war diary entry. So I am now convinced it must have been the Mona's Isle. Unless someone knows more information of course.
I found a couple of links which mention that Mona`s Isle was the first rescue ship to leave Dover for Dunkirk, and leaving Dover on the evening of the 27th is mentioned as well. Could the war diary be incorrect ? Links.... - MONA'S ISLE - Retreat
I think it is your references that are incorrect or at least refer to the second trip the Mona's Isle made. Operation Dynamo commenced on 26 May. From: Dunkirk evacuation May 1940 27 May 1940 After embarking troops at Dunkirk, armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE (1688grt) was damaged by German bombing west of Dunkirk, between Gravelines and Les Hemmes. Armed boarding vessel MONA'S ISLE was towed by tugs LADY BRASSEY and SIMLA and escorted by destroyer WINDSOR to Dover. Tim Edit: Reading your references again it looks as though they just got the dates wrong.
The war diary indicates 27th May embarked 06.30, set sail 07.30, shelled at 08.30 and attacked by enemy aircraft 09.15 arriving in Dover and disembarking at 15.00, that does link in with the sail and arrival times for the Mona's Isle, including the return journey leaving at 21.00 on the 27th from Dover. I think I am still betting on the Mona's Isle. Gary
I have Mona's Isle docking at Dover at 1350 on 27th, so that ties in with disembarcation at 1500. For Slick, Mona's Isle was probably not the first ship to leave Dover: 26th 'troop withdrawals had already been taking place from Dunkirk for several days but the sailing of Mona's Queen at 2000 with 1,312 troops was the first 'Dynamo' crossing from Dunkirk.' Roy
